Fluid pressure regulator



May 9, 1944- A. F. JENKINS 2,348,388

FLUID PRESSURE REGULATOR Original Filed Dec. 6. 1940 Patented May 9, 1944 2,348,388 FLUID-PRESSURE REGULATOR Alexander F. Jenkins, Baltimore, Md.

original application December s, 1940, serial No.

s 368,937. Divided and this application September 1l, 1942Serial No.` 458,023

2 Claims.

This invention relates 'to fluid pressure regulators and more particularly to devices of this character which are adapted tobe inserted in high pressure gas lines to effect the delivery of 'gases at reduced pressures which may be main tained at constant values. The general object of the invention is to provide novel and improved pressure regulators of the class described which are of simplel construction, composed of a minimum number of parts, and easy to manufacture, assemble, and use.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide in connection with the operating mecha- Y nism for the regulating valve, a vibration arrester which will overcome any tendency of the operating means to chatter or hammer during the rather delicate regulatory operation of the pressure reducer.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent A from the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawing in -which certain embodiments of my invention are .ing a vibration arrester applied thereto; and

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

In the drawing are shown certain features which are not directly involved in the present invention but which are comprised in the inventions described in my co-pending application,

(ci. 5to-zi) may be connected to the source of liquid, either 'directly or through a prior stagc of pressure regulation.

The body casting I2 of the regulator is provided with an inlet passageway passing through the nipple or boss I8 and leading to an inlet chamber 14 disposed within the central Serial NO. 368,937, filed December 6, 1940, of

which the present application is a division, and described in my co-pending applications, Serial No. 421,819, now Patent No. 2,343,146, granted February 29, 1944, and Serial No. 421,820. both filed December 5, 1941; and reference is made to these applications for a more detailed disclosure of such features.

In the drawing accompanying the present application, the regulator assembly, designated generally by the numeral I0, comprises a ,body casting I2, which is of a generally circular conguration. The body portion I2 is provided with a central downwardly projecting boss I4 around which are formed raised portions containingv uid passageways and terminating respectively in the outlet nipple I5 and the inlet nipple I8 for the attachment of inlet connections, which boss I4. This chamber 14 is adapted to receive the novel valve unit l5 which is substantially a self-contained element which is threaded into the body portion of the regulator. pose, the slightly larger portion 3I of the substantially cylindrical valve unit 15 is externally threaded for cooperation of the internal threads of the recess 32 in the regulator casting.

The Valve unit 15 is provided with an axial bore 33 which is enlarged adjacent the midportion to form a chamber 34 for receiving the ball valve element 35 and the coil .springr 35 for urging the ball against its seat. The valve seat element comprises an annular plug 38, made of hard rubber or a similarcomposition, which is pressed firmly within the annular recess formed in the'end of the valve unit. The valve unit is also provided with a series of inclined inlet openings 39. The bore 33 at the end cl the unit 15 opposite the valve seat is provided with a slot or square enlargement 40 for the application of a, screwdr'ver or other tool for removing the valve unit from the device. 'I'he chamber 1I is normally closed by the cap 16 which may be unscrewed for the removal of the valve unit 15. This ca'p is provded'with a recess I2I in which is seated a cup-shaped filter screen element 121i. This lter screen completely surrounds the downwardly projecting portion of the valve plug v15 and may be readily removed for cleaning by the removal of the cap 16.

In the upper portion of the body casting I2 of the regulator, there is formed an outlet" fluid chamber 98 which is of an annular conguration, the upper wall of which is comprised by the actuating diaphragm 85. An outlet passage 99 leads froms the chamber 98 through the outlet nipple I For operatively connecting the valve 15 with the actuating diaphragm 85, there is provided a pin or plunger |18, the conguration of which is clearly shown in the enlarged views of Figures Zand 3. 'I'he plunger is disposed within a passageway IIID which has branches I Ill leading laterally into the outlet chamber 98. The pin |10 is adapted to move vertically to unseat the valve element 35 upon the flexing of the diaphragm which is For this purclamped between the annular wall 88 of the body portion of the regulator, and the walls of the dome-like casing member |88.

The diaphragm 85 is provided centrally with an opening through which extends a member |80 which is provided with a head |19 adapted to abut the pin |18. 'I'he member |89 is threaded into a plate |82 and the diaphragm is clamped at its central portion between the head 18 and the plate |82. 'I'he dome or cap member |88 encloses the coil spring 98 which is compressed between the` diaphragm plate |82 and the upper spring seat button 82. The adjusting screw 95 'is threaded into the end of the cap or casing |88 and is manipulated by means of a handle 98 to accurately adjust ,the degree of compression exerted upon the diaphragm by the spring 99. To provide an lanti-friction connection between the screw 95-and the spring, the spring seat 92 is cupped as at 98 and a ball element 94 received within a 'recess in the end of the screw' 95 is adapted to seat inthe cupped portion of the member 82.

'I'he central member |89 which passes through the diaphragm is provided with a passageway 288 into the bottom of which one or more passageways 219 lead from the outlet chamber 98.

A relief valve casing 28| is threaded upon the upper end of the central plug |88 and extends upwardly therefrom. The relief valve structure does not form a part of the present aspect of the invention and is fully described in my co-pending applications, Serial No. 368,937 and Serial No. 421,820. However, it may be stated that the novel relief` valve arrangement is conveniently stowed within the normal confines of regulators of this type instead of being projected outwardly from the casing, and this positioning of the valve within the casing enables the provision of the flame preventing means embodied in the screen 29|.

Another feature applicable to regulators of this type and which may also be embodied in other valve controls involves the actuating pin or plunger |18 which extends between the diaphragm head |19 and the regulating valve element 85. This pin may be made from a blank voriginally cylindrical 'in form, and provided with longitudinal flutes 250, of which there are three in the embodiments shown. .The pin |18 is disposed in a cylindrical bore |89 formed in the body casting I2 of the device and the flutes 250 provide means for the passage of the gas through this bore when the pin is in operative position. Branch passageways 0, of course, may lead from the lower/,portionof this bore to -the outlet chamber 98.

, vIn order to prevent chattering of the pin nder certain conditions of operation of the regulator. a vibration preventing device is employed which comprises the resilient ring 255 which is adapted to t in the grooves or notches A258 cutin the remaining portion of the peripleral surface of the pin after the utes 250 have been formed. This spring ring 255 is adapted to fit snugly within the grooves 258 and the ends 258 of the spring are bent inwardly into one of the iiutes 250 as shown. 'I'his causes the portions of the spring wing which bridge the remaining ilutes 250 to bulge or bow outwardly to an exceedingly slight degree. This bowing or projecting of the spring element is not sullicient to prevent the prompt movement of the pin in ICSDOnse to the action of the diaphragm or of the valve spring 38but it is eiective to apply just enough friction to the pin to prevent .Y chattering or vibration thereof under 'certain conditions of approximate balance between and outlet pressures.

It is understood that various changes and modillcations may be made in the embodiment illustrated herein without departing from the scope of the invention as dened by the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A fluid pressure regulator comprising a casing containing an inlet chamber, an outlet chamber, and a. passageway connecting said chambers,

the inlet la valve member adaptedto reciprocate axially of said passageway to control the passage of fluid therethrough from said inlet chamber to said outlet chamber, a ilexible diaphragm comprising a wall of said outlet chamber, a separate floating pin movable longitudinally in said passageway and extending from said diaphragm to said valve member to unseat and to permit the seating of the latterin response to movements of said' diaphragm, said pin having a plurality of longitudinal flutes in its outer surface, a groove in said surface circumferentially thereof and of less depth than the flutes, a resilient plain substantially circular ring disposed in said groove and sprung outwardly of the axis of said pin where it bridges the flutes to frictionally and resiliently engage the Walls of said passageway, whereby the ring is securely retained on the pin and vibration of the plunger within the passageway during the automatic regulation of the valve is prevented.

2. As an article of manufacture, an actuating pin for transmitting valve actuating movements through a narrow passageway or for similar uses. said pin being of substantially the same cross sectional conguration throughout its length, having a plurality of longitudinal flutes in its outer surface, said flutes alternating with peripherally spaced longitudinal ribs, said ribs being traversed by a circumferential groove, saidgroove being of less depth than the ilutes, a plain substantially circular resilient split ring disposed in said groove and having at least a portion thereof sprung radially outwardly to resiliently and frictionally 4contact the walls of such passageway and prevent vibration of the pin duringits actuating movements.

ALEXANDER F. JENKINS. 

